Christians only: Do you think the pastors in church should be rich or poor explain?

Answer 1

I definitely don't think a pastor should be poor. A lot of people don't realize it but a pastor's job is not only very important but it is also very tough. Most people are under the illusion that a pastor justs sits at home all week and prepare for his sunday morning sermon and nothing could be further from the truth. During the course of a week in addition to preparing and performing his sermon, my pastor has to visit and fellowship with other churches, visit the sick and shut-in (and when you have a church whose congregation is primarily comprised of the elderly this becomes quite a chore), perform weddings, funerals, attend board meetings and teach bible class on tuesday nights as well as other miscellaneous services and ceremonies as well as community outreach. For example in the month of June my pastor performed seven weddings, four funerals and made three guest appearances at other churches. That's a far cry from most people's perception of four monthly (my pastor performs two services each Sunday so he preaches 8+ monthly sermons) ceremonies. My pastor from a financial perspective is neither rich or poor. He doesn't drive a Mercedes or Lexus, he drives a modest Buick Le Saber. I have no problem with a Pastor being rich as long as they are doing what they are suppose to be doing, not manipulating church funds and not bragging about their wealth. My pastor is a good man and I pray that God blesses the growth or our church so that we can increase his salary because he really deserves it. Peace and God bless.

Answer 2

As a Pastor's kid (dad's now in his 80s so he's retired), I believe that a pastor should be at the median level of his congregation. He should be taken care of by his congregation, but not to the point where he lives better than the majority of the people in the congregation.

Most pastors have college and even master's degrees. They are on call 24/7 and constantly being called to help in times of crisis. It is a very emotionally draining job and a lot more than just preparing a sermon and preaching. They are also expected to live in a glass house where everything they or their family does will be studied. If they are perfect, they are doing what is expected of them, but they are ridiculed, or gossiped about if they do even the smallest thing wrong. People, please remember that being a minister is not that glamorous and requires being a servant of the people (at least the good ones are).

Answer 3

does not matter - I think that the people who are attending and being ministered to should be giving tithes and offerings to help support the pastor as often that is his only source of income. Most pastors are on call 24/ 7 to go to hospitals, visit people in their homes, prison, etc. preparing sermons, study and research, counseling church members, etc. so the members hould take these things into consideration as well as what it takes to upkeep a church building and have the utilities operational. What the pastor does with that money afterwards is between him and God. At the vvery least his and his familys basic needs should be met- but why would you deny a pastor and his family other extras that you would not deny yourself.
I don't think a pastor should be judged according to his perceived wealth.

Answer 4

They usually get paid whatever is the average salary of the congregation.

Pastors have a family too, and they have to pay for gas, food and college like everyone else. If a pastor wishes to live a frugal life and save all of his family's money (and some do), then good for him.

However the Apostle Paul said that a pastor deserves to get paid for what he is doing, just like a secular professor, since he is providing you with a service by teaching you the word.

**edit***

With all due respect to the pagan woman above me, why should we care what the non-Christians think about how we run our church? They never come to church, participate in Congregational business meetings, or donate any of their time or money, anyway.

1 Corinthians 9:1-18

1 Timothy 5:17-19

Answer 5

Pastors should be neither poor nor rich. However, in God's eyes t he poorest has more than the wealthy.

The wealthy are material minded, the poor are not as inclined to be. If there are wealthy pastors that know their place and do not place their faith in materialism - they would not live in a house too big for him and his family, would not own more than one house, would not own more than the number of cars required for the size of his family (no more than 3 best guess), and would not dress in super expensive suits or high-dollar glamor outfits.

Answer 6

If you have a big church, there is more money.
If you have a small church you have less money.
It is where the chips fall.
If big, you get rich.
If small, you may need to get a second job.

My personal belief is that you should not get rich selling the Word of God. You should make a living, but not get rich. ( average living )

There have been others that have gotten rich. The TV people for instance. Go to Jail. Get thrown off the air. Be exposed.

Answer 7

It doesn't state specifically in the bible so it all comes down to a matter of opinion. Personally, i think the wages of a pastor are meant to support him enough to continue his ministry. I think an average income is suitable. Although a real man of God wouldn't really care how much he made, because he would know that God always provides. But to pay a pastor huge sums of money seems frivolous to me. He can get himself a new Lexus, or you could send the money to a missionary in Africa to see lives saved. Which would say is more important?

Answer 8

Depends, if they work another job it doesn't matter but if they are full time, I'm not against a living wage or even one with some excess IF the church is doing well.
But I am against the tax-free status of the church and pastors. If I have to pay taxes so should they.

Answer 9

Pastors are not in the deal to get rich, that goes to the televangelists. Pastors are usually those who really don't want to have to work for a living.

Answer 10

Jesus basically says that its difficult to be rich for some people bacauese its distractive and pulls you towars the material world. However knowing your proper place and enjoying things in life with riches is fun. So it comes down to the question, is the pastor balanced?